Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

RYAN

Since we were already in New York, | figured it was the perfect opportunity to speak to the detective in person

about the case. | hadn't had much direct conversation with him on this matter, and today felt like the right day to

finally get it done.

| offered to bring Lily along, but she declined. She said she wanted to take the chance to sit down with Mum and

discuss what had happened the last tthey were together. She wanted to smooth things out, which | thought

was a great idea. | genuinely hoped they could work things out and go back to how things used to be between

them.

After arriving at the detective's office, | parked and headed straight in. Since he knew | was coming, | didn't have

to go through the usual protocol at the front desk. | walked directly to his door, knocked, and, hearing his voice

invitingin, pushed it open and stepped inside.

"Welcome, Mr. Williams," he greeted, gesturing toward the cream-colored sofa. | took a seat, grateful for the

informal welcome.

"Any progress on the case?" | asked, eager to hear if there was any new development.

Instead of answering right away, he picked up the phone, called his secretary, and requested two coffees. Then,

he walked over to the sofa and settled down beside me.

"No major progress, unfortunately," he responded with a heavy sigh, crossing one leg over the other and settling

back into his chair. "I've been able to speak to a few people connected to your father, including his secretary,

and what I can tell you so far is that he left the office early on that particular day. He made the unusual decision

to dismiss his security team, insisting on driving himself instead of using the usual car and driver."

| frowned, feeling a prickling unease at this information. "Drove himself? But to where exactly?"

He shook his head slowly, clearly just as puzzled as | was. "That's the mystery. We don't know yet where he went

after leaving the office. Unfortunately, the CCTV footage from his usual routes and nearby locations hasn't

provided any clues. The cameras didn't catch much, so we're left with more questions than answers at this point.

But | did reach out to your mother a few days ago. She was kind enough to giveaccess to the CCTV footage

from your parents’ house. | went through it, and it seems your father returned haround three in the

afternoon on that day. But here's the curious part-he left his office at around one."

The timelines are not quite adding up in my mind. "Wait, that would mean it took him two hours to get home,

right? Normally, it shouldn't take anywhere near that long."

He nodded. "Exactly. The drive should have been much quicker, under typical circumstances. That two-hour gap

suggests he made a stop somewhere along the way. And based on what we know so far, that stop might have

been where he was poisoned."

I ran a hand over my face, struggling to process it all, wondering where on earth my father could have gone

during that gap of time. My mind raced, trying to imagine every possible location or person he might have

visited. "Have you questioned all the security personnel who were on duty that day?"

He nodded. "They all insisted they went himmediately after he dismissed them." | could tell he was feeling

just as frustrated as | was. "They claimed no one would ever consider going against your father's instructions.

When he told them to go, they left-no questions asked."

| thought about that. If | had been in New York that day, | wouldn't have just walked away because he toldto.

But that's hindsight now. | rose to my feet, straightening my suit as | prepared to leave. "Take all the tyou

need with this case," | instructed. He stood as well, mirroring my actions. "Just understand this case doesn't close

until we find the person responsible."

"I understand that," he agreed. "And | have no intention of closing it until the killer is brought to light."

He seemed to notice | was about to walk out and glanced toward the door. "The coffee hasn't arrived yet."

I looked at him, raising an eyebrow as though he had just suggested something completely absurd. "Do | look

like someone who chere for coffee?" | didn't chere to drink coffee and make small talk; | chere to

find out what's being done about my father's murder. If | wanted coffee, | knew exactly where to get it.

"Just make sure you find the killer," | said, my voice hard. "So we can put an end to this."

"| take promises seriously," the detective said. "And I'm making one to you right now: | will find whoever is

responsible."

Giving him a curt nod, | turned and walked out of his office.

soko

As | pulled up to the house, each step toward the front door felt automatic, my mind still turning over everything

the detective had said. | pushed the door open, hardly aware of my surroundings, until | felt a hand grab my

wrist, pullingback into the present. Blinking, | found myself face-to-face with Lily. Her brow was furrowed, her

eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay? I've been calling your nfor a while now."

Clearing my throat, | gave her a nod. "Just... lost in thought about the case," | said, trying to offer a reassuring

smile. | leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Where's Mum?"

She tilted her head toward the stairs. "She's asleep in her room."

"Did you manage to talk things through with her?" | asked, curious about how her conversation with Mum had

gone.

Lily nodded. "Yes, we talked. It didn't

go as well as hoped, but it wasn't

terrible either. We were able to get sthings out in the open." She reached out, intertwining her fingers with

mine, and gently guidedtoward the sofa in the living room. "How about you? Tellwhat exactly you

discussed with the

detective."

| was just about to go into it when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Pulling it out, | saw that the family lawyer

was calling, which was unusual, especially since we'd already finished the will reading. With a quick look of

apology to Lily, | answered. "Mr. Williams," he greeted as soon as the call connected.

"Is everything okay?" | asked. Calls from him typically didn't happen without a pressing reason.

"Yes, everything's fine. | was just working alone in my office this evening, and something occurred tothat |

thought | should mention."

Taking a seat, | noticed Lily's curiosity heighten. She watchedintently, her gaze fixed on my lips, not out of

any particular attraction but out of pure curiosity, wanting to catch every word | was exchanging with the lawyer.

"What thought cto you?" | asked, intrigued. "It's about the day your father died," he began. "At first, |

thought it was just a coincidence, but ever since the news of his murder made it into the news, I've started to

question it."

His words made my pulse quicken. "Can you just get to the point?" | said, more sharply than intended. "If you

have information that could help the case, then say it already."

He cleared his throat, clearly choosing his words carefully. "Syears back, your father ctowith a new

will he had written. But he left it unsigned, saying he would sign it when the twas right."

What could have been in that unsigned document? Why had he written a new will but held off on making it

official?

I"

Then, two years ago, he cto me

son : (TR

again," the lawyer continued, "with yet

another unsigned will. He instructed